Joe Schmidt’s mission statement: You’ve got to try to get better

If Ireland were not quite so driven to succeed, every member of the camp from Joe Schmidt down might take a moment’s pause to appreciate all they have achieved this season.

That is quite a big “if” and a seriously unlikely “might”.

Following a third Six Nations title in five years and a first Grand Slam since 2009 by bridging a 39-gap to a Test win in Australia and then claiming a first three-Test series victory over a Southern Hemisphere big gun would be reason enough to celebrate.